Transit Systems Across the Commonwealth Must Enforce FTA Mask Requirement Until September 13, 2021
Public transportation agencies across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have announced today that they must enforce mask requirements for passengers until September 13, 2021, per the mandate from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Allied Coordinated Transportation Services, Inc. (ACTS) and the New Castle Area Transit Authority (NCATA) are the Lawrence County public transit providers who receive Federal Transit Administration funding and are obligated to comply with the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) mask mandate until September 13, 2021.
This announcement comes with the news that Governor Wolf has lifted the masking order as of June 28, 2021, communicating that Pennsylvanians may choose not to wear a mask, unless they are required by a business or organization. Due to the FTA’s directive requiring ongoing mask usage on public transportation, the New Castle Area Transit Authority (NCATA) and Allied Coordinated Transportation Services, Inc. (ACTS) want to ensure that their passengers are aware of this ongoing mask requirement.
“Considering the Governor’s lifting of the mask mandate today, we understand why the ongoing requirement to wear masks on our buses is confusing, even frustrating, to our passengers, especially those who have been fully vaccinated. ACTS would like our passengers to know that as soon as we are able to forgo requiring masks on our buses, we will do so. Until then, we appreciate our passengers continued understanding on the matter. Our drivers have masks available for free for any passenger who needs one. As public transit providers, we are required to enforce the FTA order and will do so until we are no longer required,” states Vanessa Lovlie, ACTS Director.
“It is imperative that the NCATA follow the FTA mask mandate and require all passengers to continue to wear masks, this is a direct requirement of funding for our local public transportation. Without FTA’s support, fixed-route service throughout our County would cease, leaving many families without access to work, medical appointments, and to other daily life activities. We have been fortunate that our passengers have been compliant thus far with wearing masks on our buses. We just need that to continue for just a couple more months. Passengers should mask-up prior to boarding our buses to minimize transit delays caused by mask conversations with our vehicle operators,” commented David Richards, NCATA General Manager.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lifted the masking order for those who are fully vaccinated, it still requires those traveling on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation or at indoor transportation hubs to wear a mask. For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html#vaccinated
